Award Details:
Award Type: Accelerator
Award #: A-012
Proposal Title: A Drug to Block Ischemia/ Reperfusion Injury Following Myocardial Infarction
PI(s): William Muller (NU)
Award Amount: $100,000.00
Application Cycle: Round 3 (Spring 2019)
Award Start Date: November 1, 2019
Award End Date: October 31, 2020
Abstract:
Millions of people suffer a heart attack each year. Thanks to modern medicine and the widespread availability of emergency medical technicians, most will survive the acute event. However, they are at high risk for deadly complications of the therapy that saved them: heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias, which are currently the major causes of morbidity and mortality in developed countries. This is because the standard-of-care reperfusion therapy that restores blood flow to the heart causes a condition called “ischemia/reperfusion injury” (IRI), which paradoxically increases the amount of heart muscle killed. Our lead drug is a molecule that is able to enter the affected heart muscle and prevent IRI. This will be an adjunct to the standard of care therapy given at the time of reperfusion to prevent this major complication. The outcome will be better recovery, less hospitalization, and a healthier life after heart attacks—saving lives and money.